
According to the latest statistics (which are constantly changing), around 10% or more of all Covid patients experience long-term symptoms for at least a month to a year. A third of patients with Long Covid continue to experience symptoms a year later. A quarter to a third of those with mild Covid 19 may be suffering from unreported Long Covid symptoms.
The elderly, in particular, are at high risk of contracting respiratory infections such as Covid and Long COVID-19, which can cause significant physical and mental problems. Long Covid can affect any organ and/or system, causing symptoms such as:
• Fatigue
• Post-exercise fatigue
• Cognitive problems
• GI (Gastrointestinal) problems
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Decreased mental health
Long Covid is also common in young and middle-aged populations.
Compared with active people (at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week), sedentary people are twice as likely to be hospitalized or die from Covid-19.

Tai Chi and Qigong have been shown to improve lung function, relieve shortness of breath and cough, regulate the body's immune system and inflammatory marker response, improve quality of life and psychological well-being, and reduce and shorten anxiety and depression.
Length of hospital stay for COVID-19 patients.
In China, field hospitals are often used to isolate mild cases rather than sending patients home for quarantine. Patients in these field hospitals practice Qigong under the guidance of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors for both treatment and exercise.
When comparing those who received standard treatment with those who received Qigong exercises in addition to standard treatment, it was seen that patients who received acupressure treatment showed significant improvements in lung function, breathing and cough compared to the control group. It was also observed that the length of hospital stay was shortened.
A 2022 study found that Tai Chi was effective in Covid-19 and Long Covid disease.
by improving and increasing lung capacity,
by improving cognitive function,
by improving mental health,
by balancing the autonomic nervous system,
by regulating breathing, heart rate, blood pressure
It has been shown to help improve vitality, balance and quality of life.
Recent findings suggest that Tai Chi improves lung function by preventing fibrotic scarring and may reduce chronic fatigue by balancing the autonomic nervous system.
In Qigong and Tai Chi, diaphragmatic breathing (abdominal breathing) is practiced, which increases lung capacity by 125-145% and forces air into the lower lung lobes to prevent this inflammatory process.
Normally, as you age, your lung capacity decreases. However, a 70-year-old Qigong practitioner will have the same lung capacity as a 20-year-old non-Qigong practitioner.
Suggestions:
Start an exercise program before you get Covid (or even during and after a Covid infection) and avoid being sedentary.
With Tai Chi and/or Qigong you can increase your immunity and prevent or at least reduce Covid infection or its symptoms.
If you are hospitalized, learn and practice Qigong exercises after you are discharged.